Two weeks ago, I wrote about some Guinea pigs in a field near our home. They still munch and play happily, so I've stopped worrying about them. Very sweet little critters! 

And I mentioned seeing a large Javelina. Well, more have arrived, and they roam the area. ​It's a bit startling when you see one or several. Residents have to put up with them, because they are protected by law. From what I've been told, there is a hunting season January - March. But who would eat them?! Definitely, not me. 🙄

Have a great week, my friends. 🌞

Hello, dear blog friends ~ 

I suspect you are like me in that we've a special love for the sunrise. Every morning, just at the break of day, I walk. At that magical time, my busy mind grows silent, my worries for ill family members fade, and my concerns about our precious planet soften. It is as though heaven reaches across the divide and whispers, take a deep breath and listen. And I do listen - to the scurry of little creatures, to the song of birds, to the breeze flowing past me. It is a time of prayer for me. I took the photo below while traveling my familiar path. There was rain the night before, thus the pond. 💛

​It's Tanka Tuesday, and this week, Selma Martin invites participants to write a poem inspired by Paul Szlosek’s photos. His website, Wonderful World of Color, has an extraordinary collection of colorful photos. I choose his Black-Eyed Susans, because the bright yellows reminded me of the sunrise.

I hope you'll check out Paul's site. He has a great eye for the unusual, and color plays an important part of the story he creates through his photography. 

​Below is my Tanka contribution. 

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. And escape into nature, if you can. 🌞 

Hello, dear blog friends.

Over the last few years, I've shared wildlife stories with you. I've written about the wolf who crossed my path, the coyotes who haunted me, the beautiful mountain lion who paused and glanced at me, and the many javelinas that have made me walk faster in the opposite direction. BUT, this week I have a special surprise. 

At the edge of a nearby farm, I discovered two little guinea pigs munching on grass. I couldn't believe my eyes. The last time I had seen guinea pigs was when my kids were young, and those little creatures were in a cage. 

These tiny ones have become a moral challenge for me. I suspect they escaped their confines or were let go. Either way, it's dangerous for them to just wander. I'm trying to find the owners, but I worry that the bigger creatures will discover them before they are rescued. 

When I received the Tanka Tuesday prompt, I thought of my new little friends and decided to write a poem about them. Melissa Lemay offered the prompt and suggested we compose a Shadorma (3-5-3-3-7-5). I hope you like my effort. 

Have a wonderful rest of the week, dear friends. 🌞

Hello, blog friends ~

In my part of the world, surrounded by the Prescott National Forest and elevations stretching upwards of 7,000 ft., wildlife are abundant. Almost every day, I see pronghorn. At certain times of the year, I encounter javelina, but more commonly, I see coyotes and rabbits--and many varieties of birds. 

Recently, I was surprised by a mountain lion. It was early morning, and I was driving into Prescott. This magnificent cat leapt in front of the car as she headed into the mountains. It was love at first sight. ❤️ She glanced at me, and I at her, and to this day, I see her beautiful face.

Since today is Tanka Tuesday, I've chosen to use the above encounter as the inspiration for my poem. Colleen Chesebro invites participants to use metaphors to stir the reader's senses. I've given it a try through my simple tanka.

I wish I could say that I took the photo, but all the glory goes to Canva. I didn't have time to dig out my phone and snap a shot or two. The visit was, unfortunately, much too brief. 

I hope you have a wonderful week, and if you've encountered a mountain lion, please share. This was my first and only sighting. 

Hello, blog friends...

It's #TankaTuesday, and Willow is leading us with a beautiful prompt. She invites participants to write a Nonet and use synonyms for (1) the state of the world, or (2) the state of our lives. I've decided to focus on the second option.

There are several forms of Nonets, and I've chosen a Double Inverted Nonet, with syllables of 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9, 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. It sounds complicated, but it's not -- as long as you can count to nine. 😊 

Because hubby and I just celebrated our nineteen anniversary, I've written a Nonet about our beginnings and our continued life together. I hope you enjoy it. 

I've entitled it SOFTLY YES. 

I'm a fan of Anne Murray and will end this post with one of her songs. She has a beautiful way of capturing elusive love. I hope you enjoy it. 

Daily I remind myself to forget about politics and craziness and hug my loved ones--even if I can only offer virtual hugs. There's so much to celebrate in life, and one of the joys is you. So, consider yourself hugged, dear friends, and have a great rest of the week. 😊